Collectively, we are co-creating new leadership paradigms and practices. Standing in Our Power (SiOP) is an intergenerational network of women of color leaders who are committed to a just, equitable and sustainable world, and seeking to transform our leadership by building new leadership paradigms. SiOP members are working towards racial, gender, economic, reproductive and environmental justice. W
e seek to ignite a cultural shift within our organizations and communities that allows for radical inclusion of the vision and voices of women of color. Launched in 2011, SiOP emerged directly from the need for visionary women of color spaces where we can work collectively to practice and implement transformative change personally and within society. By fostering strong communities of practice, we seek to redefine the ‘norm’ (often a white male leadership paradigm) and intentionally forge new paths. SiOP has a core team comprised of an inter-generational, cross-race and cross-class group of women. After several months of research and development, followed by a deep listening phase we held our inaugural gathering in October 2012, and have since organized local gatherings and programming as we continue building a national network with local and regional nodes. We recently launched a 10 month Transformative Leadership Institute and held a kick-off national gathering in October 2013. The institute includes local and national gatherings, coaching, training, mentoring, and more. At a time when our nation’s demographics are shifting, SiOP is building the leadership and capacity of women of color, who will be a critical majority, to be at the helm of social movements. Our members are organizing, shaping policies, shifting culture and building new institutions that impact our lives and our world. Ultimately, SiOP aims to create a vibrant, powerful network of women of color leaders who will collectively redefine America’s work environment and leadership structure so that it is more reflective and inclusive of the multi-racial and women-centered society taking shape. Our specific outcomes include:
**Developing, testing and implementing new leadership practices and models, built on equality and justice, which can be shared and utilized in nonprofit work, businesses and government.
**Creating support systems for women of color to better respond to and affect policy changes, as well as more effectively lead grassroots organizing campaigns.
**Developing a strong mentorship model to help guide and encourage the next generation of leadership in the U.S.
**Becoming a resource of tools and practices that inspires new ways of collaborating and leading.
**Shifting the paradigm of leadership in social justice movements and beyond.
